Saturday, April 7, 2012

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put —Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

Resinous "new-school" and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar, and tropical fruit—all culminating in a dry and lasting finish.info from Sierra Nevada

Mastermind Vodka....$24.99Madison County IL"Better Drinking Through Thinking"When you un-cork a bottle of Mastermind Vodka you can be confident that what you’re about to taste is the culmination of years of research, development, and dedication. Dedication to the idea that anything less than perfection is not an option.We have taken the exacting science of creating a clean and crisp vodka, and combined it with the care and attention of small hand-crafted batches to provide you with a truly unique drinking experience.

The DifferenceUnlike many brands of distilled spirits that are mass produced without concern for quality or integrity, brands that hide behind big budget ad campaigns and rely on celebrity endorsements to mask their taste. At Mastermind we stand behind our product and take pride in our craft.

We use only select Midwestern grain that is harvested by local farmers who can maintain unparalleled control over their crop. Next we ensure perfection by working with small hand-crafted batches that can be carefully produced. This is not the easiest way to create vodka, but it’s the only way to craft perfect vodka.

Using a combination of modern technology and time tested methods we are able to achieve a new apex in the evolution of vodka.

See for yourself; we invite you to un-cork a bottle and taste the Mastermind difference.

Johnnie Walker announces that the existing Green Label and Gold Label will be phased out....Stock up on them now, while you can

"Top global Scotch brand Johnnie Walker is planning to shake up its range in global markets, including the U.S. The Diageo-owned label will add two new variants and subtract two existing ones from its lineup over the next year. The existing Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18-year-old and Johnnie Walker Green Label will begin to be phased out in the U.S. market during the summer of next year (the phase-outs will begin this summer in most other global markets). In their place, Diageo will introduce two new labels that have tested successfully in Asia—Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve (selling for around $63 a 750-ml.) and Johnnie Walker Platinum 18-year-old (around $110).Diageo’s head of whisky outreach Nick Morgan told Shanken News Daily the revamp was meant to spread out the Johnnie Walker portfolio’s pricing in order to better motivate consumers to move up the brand ladder. “As we reviewed the brand offering, we found that the range wasn’t meeting consumer needs and providing the best consumer journey through the range as far as taste profiles and price points,” Morgan said. “Another reason for this change is to try and have, as far as is possible, a consistent range of prices and options for consumers wherever they go in the world—which, to be honest, we haven’t had heretofore.”The new Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve is based on the same Clynelish single malt as Gold Label 18-year-old, but it has a less peaty profile and will sell for around $20 less. Removing the age statement from the Gold offering also enables Diageo greater flexibility in crafting the blend. Platinum 18-year-old, meanwhile, has a more intense, peaty Speyside character. The two new variants will sit between Black Label (around $40) and Blue Label (around $210) in the portfolio. “You can see how the ladder then stretches out,” Morgan said.The departing Green Label, which sells for around $65, is a blended malt, which Morgan described as the odd man out within the line. Except in Taiwan, which has shown a special affinity for blended malts, it will be discontinued. Still, both it and Gold 18-year-old have pockets of very enthusiastic consumers in the U.S.“We want to be careful not to disappoint people and help them through the change process, so we’re giving an additional 12-month period in the U.S. before phasing those expressions out to help ease the transition,” Morgan said.While its global progress has been well documented, Johnnie Walker has also been thriving in the U.S., where its Red and Black labels alone account for over 1.5 million cases. In the six months through December, Johnnie Walker’s volume rose 11% in North America, as organic net sales surged 19%." -- "Shanken Daily News"

Our own Colin keeps us in touch with what the college kids are drinking. Today he will sample out Three Olives Loopy Vodka with Rum Chata. It's like drinking the Fruit Loops milk after eating your cereal (with a kick)

Thursday, April 5, 2012

2012 Reader's Choice Poll -- click here to voteFavorite Place to buy cheeseFavorite Liquor StoreFavorite Specialty shopFavoirte Wine ShopIf you decide to vote for us, our name is under "Wine and Cheese Place" not "The Wine..."

"Maibock is a tradition from Bavaria brewed to celebrate the arrival of the spring season. Our Maibock is fermented with traditional Bavarian lager yeast prior to cold conditioning for eight long weeks. Two-Row Barley, Munich, and Carmel Malt build the base that facilitates the malty aromatic profile and deep bronze color. German Magnum, Hallertau, and Tettnanger hops make up the balance to form its depth and Character." -- Charleville

Don't forget their other great brews...

Half Wit Wheat"A cross between an American Wheat and a Belgian Wit, this refreshing ale is made with white wheat, ground corriander, and fresh whole oranges! Simply delicious served with a slice of orange." -- Charleville

Hoptimistic IPA"We are really excited to feature our new Hoptimistic IPA!!! This is a very hoppy IPA with lots of complexity and wonderful hops flavors. Yum!" -- Charleville

Tripel Wit"A beer experience with a true distinction, our Triple wit is a unique bottle conditioned Belgian style ale. Made from two row barley, white wheat and rolled oats. To compliment the satiating taste only found by using a traditional top fermenting yeast, coriander and oranges are added. This addition during the brewing process lends to the delicate balance of flavors between the malt hops and yeast." -- brewery

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Here is your first look at our next barrel aged beer to be released. Perennial Devil's Heart of GoldWheat Wine Style Ale aged in bourbon barrelsThe name "Devil's Heart of Gold" comes from what they call the "Devil's Cut". When a bourbon ages in a barrel, a portion of the bourbon evaporates - this is called the "Angel's share". Another portion of the bourbon gets absorbed into the new oak barrel -- this is called the "Devil's cut". Therefore, the Heart of Gold beer aging in the barrel starts to absorb back some of the Devil's Cut and hence the name "Devil's Heart of Gold".

Perennial took their Heart of Gold and aged it in a Knob Creek 9yr Old Barrel back in October 2011. They are planning to bottle the beer in May -- just weeks away!! The beer will have been resting for 7 months in barrel!Here are some pictures of the barrel being filled - click here

How do you get this beer?Watch our Blog - right where you are now"Like" us on Facebook - click hereFollow us on Twitter - click hereSign up for our beer emails - click here

The release will be announced using all of these resources. We will continue with 1 bottle per person to let more get around. We will also have a similar style release party where we will taste both the "regular" Heart of Gold and the Devil's Heart of Gold. We will sell tickets to this as soon as we know the release date.

Barrels on the way! These barrels are on the way and will eventually be filled with beer. Six Row Brewing is tagged for the next one to arrive. We are planning to do a second batch of Schlafly Quadrupel in barrel and the rest are yet to be determined.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Bear Republic Brewing Co. is coming back to The Wine and Cheese PlaceYes, it is true. I just got word that we will be able to get Bear Republic beers back in stock sometime in the next 4-6 weeks!!!Watch for some delicious and fresh beer from one of California's finest breweries...Bear Republic Racer 5Bear Republic Red Rocket AleBear Republic Hop Rod RyeBear Republic Black Bear Stoutplus more....

"Every cask of rare Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky is personally nosed and tasted by our expert Malt Master. After carefully nurturing them for decades, he has ensured the whisky has achieved its rich character and seductive complexity. Casks for this Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve have been selected by the Glenfiddich Malt Master because of their exceptional quality." -- label

Very rare 41 year old Macallan from Gordon and MacphailSpeymalt from Macallan 1970 Single Malt Scotch...$699.9943% Distilled 1970Bottled 2011

TASTING NOTEAROMA WITHOUT WATERInitial burst of sherry sweetness, with subtle rum and raisin notes. Some marzipan and almonds with a hint of vanilla lingering. Some subtle bees wax polish and a touch of charred oak develop.TASTE WITHOUT WATERSweet and Sherried, with Christmas cake influences and some hints of warm festive spices. Followed by some dark chocolate with a burst of citrus peel.AROMA WITH WATERFresh, with some pronounced sweet Sherry notes, hints of stewed fruits and a mulled wine edge. Some delicate vanilla and hints of cream fudge emerges.TASTE WITH WATERBurst of Sherry, with a delicate stewed plum edge, creamy and smooth with a defined hint of dark chocolate lingering. A very delicate touch of ash lingers.

The MacPhail's Collection Highland Park 8yr 43%....$35.99 "Built in 1798, Scotland's most Northern distillery is set on the site where the infamous illicit distiller, Magnus Eunson's bothy used to stand. Highland Park continues to malt its own barley using the traditional floor malting method and to kiln dry the 'green' malt using peat cut from its own moorlands. One of the few distilleries where you can still see and smell smoke wafting from its pagoda. Cattie Maggie is the underground spring that feeds a former quarry close to Highland Park. The spring and quarry are named after a tinker who lived in the vicinity. The water is pure and very hard, rising through a sedimentary rock of hard sandstone."-- Gordon & MacPhail

The MacPhail's Collection Bunnahabhain 8yr 43%....$35.99"Bunnahabhain Distillery was designed from the start as a high-output malt distillery. Built round a courtyard, in a style that resembles a Bordeaux chateau, the distillery today is little changed. It amalgamated with William Grant and Sons in 1887 to become part of the Highland Distillers group. During 1963 the number of stills were increased from 2 to 4. Bunnahabhain (meaning 'mouth of the river') shares its name with the village that grew up around it. In effect, development of the distillery created a community dependent upon it for employment. In doing so, an entire village emerged."-- Gordon & MacPhail

The MacPhail's Collection Tamdhu 8yr 43%.....$35.99"Tamdhu Distillery was one of several to be built along the Strathspey railway line, which at one time played such an important part in the whisky industry. Originally built by a group of whisky blenders, ownership reverted to Highland Distillers a few years later. The old Knockando railway station was converted into an attractive visitors? centre and reception.The distillery operates its own saladin box maltings, which produces sufficient malt to supply both Tamdhu and other distilleries in the group." -- Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon and Macphail Glenburgie 15yr 43% $65.99Gordon and Macphail Glenburgie 21yr 43% $151.99
Set close to the A96, near the village of Alves, lies Glenburgie Distillery which looks over the Moray Firth. The distillery was originally called Kilnflat, although in 1878 after a period of disuse, it was renamed Glenburgie. Nearby is Burgie Castle, which dates back to the 16th century. For a short while Glenburgie also produced another single malt, Glencraig. This was produced using Lomond stills and is available in our Connoisseurs Choice range.

TASTING NOTEAROMA WITHOUT WATERSweet with malty notes and some wood oil aromas.TASTE WITHOUT WATERInitially cereal flavours followed by hints of chocolate and smoke.AROMA WITH WATERSweet Sherry notes and charred oak. More balanced with delicate aromas.TASTE WITH WATERSmooth, creamy vanilla notes together with the Sherry influence.

GLENROTHESSituated within the picturesque Spey valley, Rothes is home to five distilleries all tucked along the tiny main street - unbeknown to passing visitors. Amongst these is Glenrothes hidden in a small glen on the outskirts of the village. Today Glenrothes single malt is used as the heart of Cutty Sark blended whisky. Approaching the distillery your eyes are drawn to the right where the village graveyard stretches up the hill. As whisky matures it evaporates this is known as "the angels share". Feeding off the evaporated whisky is a black sooty fungus, which gives an eiry atmosphere to the place. The blackened grave stones under the shadows of tall trees surrounded by distillery buildings.

New Belgium Ranger IPA...$7.49 / 4pk - 16oz CANSEver met a New Belgium Beer Ranger? They are our beloved folks out in the field. Spanning all 29 of our states from the Pacific to the Atlantic, our Beer Rangers do their best to protect, to pour and to partake. And explore many a beer from many a brewery, they do.

Bring out the hops! This clear amber beauty bursts at the starting gate with an abundance of hops: Cascade (citrus), Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for an intense dry hop flavor. Brewed with pale and dark caramel malts that harmonize the hop flavor from start to finish, Ranger is a sessionable splendor for all you hopinistas. Thank your Beer Ranger!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

"Raki is usually anise-flavored aperitif that is produced by twice distilling either only suma or suma that has been mixed with ethyl alcohol in traditional copper alembics of 5000 liters volume or less with aniseed. it is similar to several kins of alcoholic beverages available in the Mediterranean and parts of the Balkans, including pastis, sambuca, and ouzo....In Turkey, raki is the unofficial "national drink" and it is traditionally drunk mixed with water; the dilution cases this alcoholic drink to turn a milky-white colour, and possibly because of its colour, this mixture is popularly called aslan sutu or arslan sutu, both literally meaning "lion's milk"

Efe Classic Blue Label Turkish Raki...$25.99

"The flavor enriched by the best quality Anatolian grapes and anise gains a smooth taste with Bozdag spring water. With its distinct bottle design and its taste much enjoyed by those who are fond of classical raki, Efe Raki is continuing to add zest to raki tables." - website

Efe Fresh Grapes Turkish Raki...$27.99

"Produced from fresh grapes ripening under the Aegean sun, Efe Fresh Grape Raki is an indispensable taste for raki lovers with its flavor that appeals to different palates. Efe Fresh Grape Raki, having achieved to create its own category for the first time in the sector, has been produced for those who like to try different tastes." -- website